Saxophone Fingering Chart

Hello there fellow Saxophone Player. I've put together this complete Saxophone Fingering Chart to make it easy to learn how to finger all the notes on your sax.

It comes with a free Saxophone Fingering Chart PDF Download  and video guides for each saxophone note (see below). 

If you are a saxophone beginner this will help you learn all the notes on your saxophone in a fun and easy way.

This Saxophone Fingering chart works with all saxophones. So it does not matter if you play a Eâ™­Alto sax or Bari Sax OR if you got a Bâ™­ Tenor Sax or Soprano Sax.

 

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C note on Sax
B note on Sax
Bâ™­ note on Sax
A note on Sax
Aâ™­ note on Sax
G note on Sax
F♯ note on Sax
F note on Sax
E note on Sax
Eâ™­ note on Sax
D note on Sax
C♯ note on Sax

Hand Positions on the Saxophone

Here's how to position and place your hands and fingers on the Saxophone. Make sure to get this right. It will make it easier. to learn to finger all. thenotes on your saxophone.

Tip: If you palm your hand as a “Lego hand” it will help especially with your left hand fingerings.

Left hand – around the top part of the Sax

Position the left hand on your saxophone like this:

  1. Place your thumb on the “Thumb plate” on the backside of the sax 
  2. Palm your fingers around the body of the saxophone
  3. Place your index finger on the 2nd key from the top
  4. Place your middle finger on the 4th key from the top
  5. Place your ring finger on the 5th key from the top

 

 

Right hand – around the bottom part of the Sax

Position the right hand on your saxophone like this:

  1. Place your thumb under the “Thumb grip” on the back of the sax
  2. Palm your fingers around the body so the rest on the keys
  3. Place your index finger on the 1st key from the top
  4. Place your middle finger on the 2th key from the top
  5. Place your ring finger on the 3th key from the top

 

Top  Left hand palm keys on Saxophone

These 3 keys are also referred to as the “palm keys” on saxophone. They are only used when playing the highest notes on the sax. However, If you are having trouble playing any other note on your saxophone you should double check that you are not accidentally pushing one of these palm keys by mistake. It's a common issue that most beginner saxophone players run into before getting a hang on how to hold the saxophone correctly.No worries, You'll figure it out.

You use the palm keys to play the High D note, the High E flat note and the High F note on your saxophone.

Alto saxophone left hand side key fingerings

Bottom Right hand side keys on Saxophone

When you place your right hand around the lower part of your sax you'll have easy access to these three side keys on the sax. However, you need to make sure that you do not press them by accident as the do not work together with more that a few other fingerings. So, make sure that you keep your right hand palmed around the sax without pushing the side keys.

You use these keys to play the B Flat note, The Alternate C fingering and the High E note on your saxophone.

 

Alto Saxophone fingering right hand notes

C note fingering on Alto Saxophone

The C note on Alto Saxophone is one of the easier notes to play.

  • Middle C: Left hand middle finger › press middle key
  • High C: Left hand middle finger › press middle key › Octave key with left thumb
  • Low C: Left hand 3 main keys (B-A-G). Right hand 3 main keys (F-E-D) and the pinky on lowest pinky key.
Details on C fingering
Download Fingering Chart

B note fingering on Alto Saxophone

The B note on Alto Saxophone is one of the first notes beginners learn to play.

  • Middle B: Left hand index finger › press top main key
  • High B: Left hand index finger › press top main key › Octave key with left thumb
  • Low B: Left hand 3 main keys (B-A-G) and left pinky on B plate key. Right hand 3 main keys (F-E-D) and the pinky on lowest pinky key.
Details on B fingering
Download Fingering Chart

B Flat note fingering on Alto Saxophone

The B flat note on Alto Saxophone has both regular and alternate fingerings. These fingerings apply for both B flat and A sharp on your saxophone.

  • Middle B flat: Left hand index- and middle fingers ( B-A) › Right hand first side key (Bb)
  • High B flat: Left hand index- and middle fingers (B-A) and octave key (left thumb) › Right hand first side key (B flat key)
  • Low B flat: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G) on the 3 main keys along with the B flat plate pinky key. Right hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (F-E-D) along with low C pinky key. 
Details on B flat fingering
Download Fingering Chart

A note fingering on Alto Saxophone

The A note on Alto Saxophone is one of the easiest notes to play.

  • Middle A: Left hand index- and middle fingers (B-A keys).
  • High A: Left hand index- and middle fingers (B-A keys) and the octave key with left thumb
  • Low A: Nope! This can only be played on Bari Saxophones with Low A key
Details on A fingering
Download Fingering Chart

A Flat note fingering on Alto Saxophone

The A Flat note on Alto Saxophone and G sharp have the same fingerings.

  • Low A flat: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G) and the top plate key (G sharp) with left hand pinky.
  • High A flat: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G) and the top plate key (G sharp) with left hand pinky. Add octave key and you got it.
Details on A flat fingering
Download Fingering Chart

G note fingering on Alto Saxophone

The G note on Alto Saxophone is one of the first notes most saxophone beginners learn how to play.

  • Low G: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G keys) 
  • Middle G: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G keys). Add octave key with left thumb.
Details on G fingering
Download Fingering Chart

F sharp note fingering on Alto Saxophone

The F sharp note on Alto Saxophone has both regular and alternate fingerings in all three octaves that are really good to know. Learn the basics here and then check details form more on the alternate fingerings. 

  • Low F sharp: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers. Right hand middle F sharp key with middle finger.
  • Middle F sharp: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers. Right hand middle F sharp key with middle finger. Add octave key with left thumb.
  • High F sharp: Several fingerings to choose from depending on type of saxophone and music. See details for more.
Details on F sharp fingering
Download Fingering Chart

F note fingering on Alto Saxophone

The F note on Alto Saxophone is using just for keys in the basic fingering. However, there's also an alternate fingering for high F.

  • Low F: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G). Right hand index finger on F key (top key in right hand).
  • Middle F: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G). Right hand index finger on F key (top key in right hand). Add octave key.
  • High F: Left hand octave key and 3 palm keys. Right hand top side key pressed with side of hand. Alternate fork F fingering in details.
Details on F fingering
Download Fingering Chart

E note fingering on Alto Saxophone

The E note on Alto Saxophone also has an alternate high E fingerings for saxophone.

  • Low E: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G). Right hand index- and middle fingers (F-E).
  • Middle E: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G). Right hand index- and middle fingers (F-E). Add octave key
  • High E: Left hand octave key and 2 palm keys (D and Eb keys). Right hand top side key pressed with side of hand. There's an alternate fork E fingering for sax.)
Details on E fingering
Download Fingering Chart

E flat note fingering on Alto Saxophone

The E flat note on Alto Saxophone and D sharp share the same fingerings.

  • Low E flat: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G). Right hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (F-E-D) and E flat pinky key.
  • Middle E flat: Left hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (B-A-G). Right hand index-, middle- and ring fingers (F-E-D) and E flat pinky key. Add octave key.
  • High E flat: Left hand octave key and 2 palm keys (D and E flat)
Details on E flat fingering
Download Fingering Chart

D note fingering on Alto Saxophone

The D note on Alto Saxophone can be played in three octaves on the saxophone. 

  • Low D: Left hand index-, middle and ring fingers on 3 main keys. Right hand index-, middle and ring fingers on 3 main keys.
  • Middle D: Left hand index-, middle and ring fingers on 3 main keys. Right hand index-, middle and ring fingers on 3 main keys. Add octave key.
  • High D: Left hand octave key and first palm key (D palm key).
Details on D fingering
Download Fingering Chart

C sharp note fingering on Alto Saxophone

The C sharp note on Alto Saxophone and D sharp share the same fingerings.

  • Low C sharp: Left hand middle finger › press middle key
  • Middle C sharp: Same as Low F but with octave key
  • High C sharp: Left hand middle finger › press middle key › Octave key with left thumb
Details on C sharp fingering
Download Fingering Chart

Saxophone neckstrap – the correct position

You need a neck strap to hold up the saxophone correctly.

About 90 % of the weight of the saxophone should be resting on your shoulders with the help of the neck strap.

The remaining 10% of weight will then be easy to handle with your hands as you fine tune the position of the mouthpiece in your mouth and the saxophone body.

Playing saxophone with a straight back to improve sound and avoid injuries.

Avoid this common beginner sax mistake

A common mistake among Saxophone Beginners is to have the neck strap too loose which result in the saxophone hanging way too low for you to be able to play the saxophone correctly.

You will get a much better sax sound playing with a straight back as it let's the air flow more freely through your lungs at the same time as you prevent back pain and neck pain that you could develop playing bent down like that.

Playing saxophone with a straight back to improve sound and avoid injuries.

Saxophone Fingerings

Note from the saxophone teacher: These sax fingerings are the same on all types of saxophones. So it doesn't matter if you play alto saxophone, soprano sax, tenor saxophone or Baritone sax. The saxaphone note fingering chart works for all of them.

 

 

Saxophone fingering chart PDF download and step-by-step tutorial guide

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